ABSTRACT
           The industrial importance of gelatinase cannot be overemphasized as more jaw dropping discoveries have uncovered the various undisputable applications of the enzyme in several aspects of science. In this study, gelatinase producing bacteria were probed from sediment samples of Kwa River and Atimbo River, Cross River State. Primary screening uncovered 3 isolates (B5, A7 and B6) that could elaborate gelatinase activity. This exposed the quantity of gelatinolytic bacteria to be 5.4% of the entire sediment sample population. The isolates that showed positive gelatinolytic activity were then quantitatively screened using the Bradford method which displayed high production in 2 isolates (B6 and B5). The isolate that showed maximum gelatinolytic activity was then centrifuged and evaluated to determine the extracellular production of the enzyme using cell free supernatants. The cell free supernatants of positive isolates were used as crude gelatinase. Determination of carbon source required by the bacteria for optimal production of the gelatinase showed high rates of enzyme activity in sucrose which was selected. The successful organism was identified to be of Bacillus species using identification tests.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
List of Figures vii
List of Plates viii
List of Tables ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
- Aim and objectives of study 3
- Justification of study 3
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 4
- Gelatins 4
- Sources of gelatin 7
- Production of gelatin 9
- Gelatin structure 12
- Mechanism of gelatin gelation 14
- Properties of gelatin 15
- Industrial applications of gelatin 17
- Proteases 21
- Microbial proteases 22
- Applications of microbial proteases 24
- Matrix Metalloproteases (MMPs) 27
- Gelatinase 29
- Types of gelatinases 30
- Structure of gelatinases 31
- Activation of gelatinases 32
- Initiation of gelatinases 33
CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS 34
- Materials 34
- Methods 34
- Sampling 34
- Sample collection 34
- Sample preparation 35
- Microbial analysis 35
- Enumeration 36
- Isolation 36
- Primary screening for gelatinase-liquefying bacteria 36
- Secondary screening for gelatinase production in submerged culture 37
- Evaluation of carbon sources for optimal gelatinase production 39
- Characterization and identification of selected
gelatinase-producing bacterium 41
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 42
- Microbial analysis 42
- Primary screening for gelatinase-liquefying bacteria 42
- Secondary screening for gelatinase production in submerged culture 43
- Evaluation of carbon sources for optimal gelatinase production 43
- Characterization and identification of selected
gelatinase-producing bacterium 44
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 49
- Discussion 49
- Conclusion 50
- Recommendation 51
References
